Geyser



M. RABINOWICZ GEYSER Filed Oct. 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l July l5, 1941-.

M. RABINOWICZ GEYSER M.v RABlNowlcz 2,249,090

GEYSER Filed oct. 11, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illlll gave/2 als l 772 /zo/wg l A Patented July 15, 1941 GEYSER Mechel Rabinowicz, London, England, assignor of one-half to Israel Xyel Kestenbaum, London,

England Application October'll, 1938, Serial No. 234,498 In Great Britain October 16, 1937 13 claims. (01. 126-350) This invention relates to geyser's andmore particularly to the means for controlling the supply of gas and Water thereto.

It is usual to provide gey'sers with a water tap having a projection or lever which is so arranged that it locks the gas tap and makes it impossible to turn on the gas before the Water is passing through the geysers, in order to prevent burning out, the gas tap being tted with a pilot burner which serves to ignite the gas which passes to the gas ring for heating the water when the gas iis turned on.

f 2In accordance with the present invention, the gas .and water taps are coupled to one another through the intermediary of a driving connection which enables them tobe openedand closed by a single actuating member such` as a handle, the said driving connection permitting motion of the Water tap relatively to the gastap, Vso asto enable cold waterV to be supplied when required, buti.

preventing independent operation ofthe gas supply control means in the direction for' supplying -gaS.

In orderto enable the; gas burner to be relighted automatically inthe event ofmit being blown out accidentally, a pilot burner is-preferably provided which is preferably shielded -from draughts and which is'maintained alight at least all the time the gas tap is -turned on. Since the pilot burner is normally arranged at a distance? .from the main burner, provision is made for ensuring that the pilotburner receives-a constant supply of gas, whether Vthe gas tap of the main burner is turned full on or only partly on. The supply of gas to the pilot burner could be controlled by a separatetap but in order to simplify the arrangement, it is preferableto control the gas supply to the pilot burner by means of a` separate conduit in the main gas tap arran-ged'so that the gas supply to they pilot burner is still ati putting-off the gas supply in the event of the burner or, where a pilot burner is tt'ed, the pilot burner becoming extinguished, such means .con-W sisting for instance of a spring or the like arranged to act on the gas'tap and tending to main- `,tain it in the closed position, a catch being provided for maintainingcthe gas tap in thezopen position, the said catch being ,under the control"'"""..

of a thermostat, for example a bimetallic strip heated by the burner flame or the pilot llame. By this means, on the thermostat cooling due to the extinguishing of the burner flame or the Apilot flame, the catch is released and the gas Atap is removed into the closed position by the automatic closing means.

The invention is illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawings,vv in which- Flgure l is a side elevation partly in section of one constructional form of the invention; Fig. 2 isa cross section through the plug of the water tap; Figs. 3, 3a and 3b show a detail of the driving -connection with the parts in different positions, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of va second 'constructional form. Figs. 4a and 4b show a detail of the driving connection inFig. 4 with the. parts inv diierentpositions.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the thermostat, pilot burner, locking means and ignition device. Fig. 6 is an elevational-View in Figure 5.

of the arrangement shown VReferring to Figs. 1to 3, the spindle e of the water tap a is provided with-a coupling member Jy uwhichengages with playaV corresponding 4coupling member lg.- on the spindle` hV of the gas tapui, the amount of playbeing suflicient to enable the water to be `*turned on without actuating Vthe spindle ]1, as shown in-Figs. Sand 3a'. The opening .pc-of lthe plug ofthe water tap which registers withy the bored inthe casing of the tap isvflaredY at both ends, as shown for example in Fig. 2, solas'to enable the tap toV befturned r through an angle which may for instance amount A tov90 degrees without reducing the Water supply.

`The plug of the gas -tap i `is provided with a conduit y' for the main burner anda `conduit 1 for'the pilot burner,V the latter communicating at each end with a groove q formed in the periphery of the plug. rI`he plug oi' the gas tap -may -be turnedfinto the closed position by means of a coil spring 11. against the force of which the plug is rotated to open the tap, the said spring f beingfixed at one en dandattached at the other to a coupling disc mloosely-rotatable on the -spindle h and provided withy one or ymore dogs orteeth m adapted to engage, corresponding dogs oritereth 1l on the plugz. v Sufficient play is provvided between the dogs or teethzon the coupling discmand-the plug z' to enable the latter to turn relatively to the formerthrough a "suicient angle p to cut oit the gas supplytothemain burner and if need be reduce the gassupply tothe pilot flame without interfering with the 'disc 'm vwhenythe latter is held in the open` position by means ofy a thermostatically controlled locking member (not shown) which engages a notch o provided in the periphery of the disc m. When the condiut y' is out of register with the inlet lc the groove q will still establish communication between the inlet p for the pilot burner and the conduit r which conducts the gas to the outlet conduits s for the pilot burner. The length of the groove q at each end of the bore r can be varied as required.

In order to prevent the water tap from being turned into the closed position by the spring 1L, a spring catch f may be provided for limiting the rotary motion of the member g so as to arrest it when the tap i is in the fully closed position. The spring catch f', however, is capable of being forced in turning the water tap oil' by hand.

The gas and water taps may be operatively connected together by means of a displaceable coupling member connected to one of the taps and engaging driving lugs or equivalent driving means provided on the actuating means for the other tap, the said driving means, in one position of the displaceable coupling member, providing a two-way driving connection and in the other position permitting the water tap to be turned on independently of the gas tap but not the gas tap independently of the water tap.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the gas and water taps are superposed, the coupling member comprising a linger or the'like t suspended from the actuating member e of the upper tap, which in the construction shown is the water tap, by means of a hinge joint or pivot t so that its lower end engages between a pair of projections u, u provided on the actuating member o of the lower tap z' which in this case is the gas tap, whereby the one actuating member operates both taps in either direction. The iinger t can be rocked inwardly on its pivot t', for instance against the action of a spring t2, so as to lie in the path of the projection u' alone, so as to provide a one-way drivingconnection permitting the water tap to be turned into the open position independently of the gas tap but preventing the gas tap from being turned independently into the open position. In practice, it i-s preferable to place the gas tap below the water tap, since a more compact arrangement of the parts is obtained thereby, the gasv tap being for instance provided with an arm orrlug w which is bolted or screwed to a boss w on the underside of the water tap. Locating means, for instance in the form of a step on the arm and boss are preferably provided for locating the two taps accurately one below the other in the assembly unit. Since the two taps when assembled one below the other occupy little more space than the water tap alone, a very compact arrangementof the control unit is obtained.

Means may be provided in this case also lfor closing the gas tap automatically in the event of the flame of the gas burner or of a pilot burner co-operating therewith becoming extinguished, the gas tap being for instance provided with a closing spring n housed within a recessV in the underside of the central enlarged portion 'u' of the actuating member v, one end of the said spring being fixed to the spindle of the Vgas tap 'or to the inside of the said recess, which forms a casing for the spring, and the other end being secured to a xed part of the tap or a fitting secured thereto, a catchcontrolled by a thermostat being provided for maintaining the' gas tap in the open position, the said catch engaging a recess or projection in or on the said casing part. Preferably, the closing spring acts on a disc m2 which is loose on the spindle of the gas tap and actuates the tap through driving teeth in a similar manner to the teeth m in Fig. l or, as shown, by means of a pin and slot connection comprising a pin ma on the disc m2 which engages stops Zz forming the ends of a slot or gap in the periphery of a disc Z1 on the spindle h which is for instance provided with a squared portion which iits into a corresponding square aperture in the disc Z1.

The coupling discs mi and mz enable the main burner to be turned down while the catch is in the operative position, the arrangement being such that the gas tap can be turned relatively to the automatic closing means through an angle corresponding to the angular distance between the fully open and fully closed positions of the gas tap, as shown in Figs. 3, 3a, 4a, and 4b, respectively. This avoids the necessity of having to disengage the catch by hand when it is desired to extinguish the burner, while enabling the intensity of the iiame to be regulated as desired.

The gas burner may also be provided with automatic igniting means adapted to operate when the gas tap is turned on, for instance frictional igniting means operated by means provided on the casing which houses the closing spring or on some other part of the actuating mem-ber of the gas tap. If a frictional igniting device is employed which is operated by a trigger or trip lever, the saidtrigger or trip lever preferably coacts with a projection or recess y provided on or in the casing of the closing spring, as shown in Fig. 4.

. The actuating member for the gas tap may also be provided with a pointer which co-operates with a iixed scale or with a dial or the like indicating the on and off as well as the half-on positions of the tap.

Where a pilot burner is provided, the nipple of the pilot burnermaybe mounted on a lateral extension i of the gas tap, particularly when the .pilot burner is arrangedA to give a long flame. vThis nipple may coact with a fixed mixing tube or with a movable pilot burner which plays on a thermostat which maintains the gas tap in the open position in the manner described in the co-pending' patent specification Serial No. 234,497, filed October 11,'1938.

In order to enable the quantity of water to be adjusted to suit the water pressure in the locality in which the appliance is to =be used, the actuat- `ing member e' and the spindle e are provided with a driving connection which enables the angular position `of the member e with respect to the water tap to be adjusted. As shown in Fig. 4, the spindle of the water tap is provided with a series of axial grooves which are engaged by one or more axial projections or keys provided in the opening of the member e' into which the spindle 'e is fitted. By this means it is only necessary to removethe screw e3, lift the actuating member ie 'oli the spindle e and replace it in a diiierent angular position to suit the timing of the 'water' and gas taps required. Normally the gas' tap'will not commence to open until the handle v has turned through a comparatively large angle, so that there is no risk of the gas tap being left open in the closed position of the water tap.v In order to prevent accidental setting ofthe member c'A into a dan- 'gerous position, jthe number of grooves e2 is reduced to that which will only Venable the member e' to be adjusted into a position within the safe region ofangular adjustment.

'I'he bimetallic` strip may be inthe form: of a coi1,vone end of which is fixed and the other operatively connected to a locking member, e. g. a lever or the like having a'tooth which. engages one or more teeth provided on the main gas tap as described in the co-pending specification Serial No. 234,497, filed October l1, 19x38. j By'employing a bimetallic strip in the formof 'acoil, the free end of the coil may be formed as an arm 'and can be connected up directly to the catch member Which retains the gas tap or taps in the open position, thereby simplifying the construction of the device. If the pilot burner is allowed toplay continuously on the coil, however,`there Ais the danger that the bimetallic strip Will become permanently stretched or damaged. Means lare therefore preferably provided for directing Vthe pilot flame away from the coil after the catch has come into action, the pilot burner being mounted so as to swivel under the control of the retaining catch, so as to enable the pilot flame to be directed towards the convolutions of the coil or away therefrom in accordance with the position of the catch.

Referring to the diagrammatic arrangement o f the automatic closing and vlighting means shown in Fig. 5, l is a lever fixed on a spindle 2 and having a tooth 3 which engages the'y recess o provided in the disc m in Fig. 1 or in the disc m2 in Fig. 4; on the spindle 2 is xed a lever 4 having a forked end 5 which engages theend of an arm 6 forming the end of a coil spring 'l composed of a lai-metallic strip, 'the other end of which is fixed to a baseplate Aor other stationary point, the arrangement being such that on the spring 'l being heated by the pilot burner, the spindle 2 is rotated anti-clockwise and moves the tooth 3 into engagement with the recess o and on the bi-metallic strip cooling again due to the extinguishing ofthe pilot flame, the spindle 2 is rotated clockwise, thereby withdrawing the tooth from the recess 0. v l

The pilot burner nipple 8 coacts with a mixing tube 9 which is pivoted at Il) so' as to Vbe capable of swinging under the action of a spring -I tinto such a position' as to direct the pilot flame on to the spring 1, an arm l2 xed on the vspindle-2 being adapted to bear against the mixing tube 9 and turn it against the action ofthe spring I`| so as to deflect the'pilot flame away frornthe spring 'l when the tooth 3 is in engagement with the recess in the member I. Bythis means, the danger of the loi-metallic strip being overheated or burnt out is avoided.

The igniting means comprise a knurled friction wheel I3 which is operated by meansof an arm I4 driven from the disc IV by ar connecting rod I5, the arrangement being such that the angle of rotation of the friction wheel is greater than that of the disc l; The friction wheel I3 coactswith ailint I6 housedin a tube I6 open at both ends, the saidV iiint being pressed against the friction wheel'by means of a n'ger on a lever l1 pivoted at 'IB and acted' on by means ofa spring I9 which bears against a fixed abutment 2l), the arrangement being such that`the lever I1 can be moved clearof the end of the tub'e I6 to allow of the insertion andremoval of thev flint. The igniting means' may comprisea segment having a roughened-surfacearranged to V'co-'operate with a iiint and operatively connected to the gas tapso as to turn when thegas supplyto the' pilot burner is 4turned on. Instead of a segment, a rod havinga roughened surface may be employed, the said rod being arranged so as to reciprocate over a flint, on the gas tap being turned on. Y

The lighting means for the pilot burner and the automatic closing means for the gas tap or taps may be mountedon the geyser in any suitable manr'ierfforinstance on a swinging bracket, so as to enable them to be withdrawn for inspection or`for facilitating the cleaning ofthe parts or the insertion of a new hint. When the pilot burner is provided with auto# matic lighting means the arrangement may be such thatthe gas supply thereto is cut off Y'when the gas tap for the main burner is in the closed position.l If vthe pilot burner remains alight after the main burner has been turned out, however, itis only necessary, to hold the gas tap in the open position until the catch has come into operation, in cases where the pilot ame has been accidentally extinguished and the thermostat .has had an opportunity to cool down.' In order to enable the gas supply to the 4pilot 'jet to be maine tained, an inlet slot may be provided of a sufficient length to enable the gas to pass to the pilot jet in any position of the handle of the gas tap, the gas supply being completely cut off by the automatic closing means'when the pilotrfflame is extinguished. The arrangement may alsobe such'that the gasr supply to the pilot flame `is completelyshut off by hand.

By means of the present invention, the ygas andwater supplies Yare controlled by a single actuating member, such as a handle, which may .also control the operation of the igniting means for the gas, while enablingthe temperature of thewater -to be varied or cold Water to be Sup plied when required.

vIt is to be understood that the details for carrying out the invention may be modified without departing from the invention.; It is also to be understood that the invention is not limited to water heating devices for supplying hot Water 4to baths.

I claimt' (i l. In a water heater, the combination of a gas tap, a Water tap,-an actuating handle connected tov one of said taps and coupling means having a positive driving connection for coupling the gas through the gas tap', a thermostat device lo- Vcated Within the heating z'one of said burner and locking means under the control of said thermostat for maintaining the automatic closing means inoperative'. -2. In a water heater, thecombiriation of a gas tap,` a water tap. an actuating handleconnected 7 -toone of said taps and coupling means having 'gas and water taps to one another so as to 'enable a' positive driving connection'for coupling the the gas and water taps to be turned on and off by said actuating handle, said drivingconnection I comprisingdriving elements arranged to. permit motion of the wateritap" alone into the open position but which prevent the gas tap from being turned into the open position alone, with automatic closing means for the gas tap arranged to urge the gas tap into the closed position, a. burner arranged to receive gas through the gas tap, a thermostat device located Within the heating zone of said burner, locking means under the control of the thermostat for maintaining the automatic closing means inoperative and a lost motion driving connection between the-automatic closing means and the gas tap for enabling the gas tap to be turned independently of the automatic closing means in the direction for shutting oi the gas supply.

3. In a water heater, the combination as se't forth in claim 1, in which the coupling means for coupling the gas and water taps comprises a lost motion driving connection which enables the water tap to be turned through a predetermined distance before the gas tap is operated, so as to enable cold water to be supplied. Y

4. In a water heater, the combination of a gas tap, a water tap, an actuating handle connected to one of said taps and coupling means for coupling the gas and water taps to one another so as to enable the gas and water taps to be operated by said actuating handle, said coupling means permitting motion of the'water tap alone into the open position but having driving elements for eiecting a positive driving connection for turning the gas tap into the closed position during the closing of the water tap, said water tap having a plug with a conduit therein which is flared at both ends, so as to enable said opening to register with the inlet and outlet of the tap while the plug is turned -through an angle of 90 degrees without reducing the water supply.

5. In a water heater, the combination of a water tap, a gas tap having a casing with inlet and outlets therein for admitting gas to a main burner and a pilot burner, respectively, an actuating handle, a 'rotary plug operatively connected to said actuating handle and having a conduit therein for co-operation with the inlet and outlet for the main burner and an independfl.

ent conduit for co-operation with the inlet and outlet for the pilot burner,'said plug being rotatable from an initial open position for supplying lgas through said conduits into an vintermediate position for shutting off the gas supply to the fi' main burner, said independentconduit for the pilot burner extending circumferentially around the plug for a sufficientv distance'to establish communication between the inlet and outlet 'in the casing for the pilot burner when the plug is f located in said intermediate position, so as to enable the pilot burner to remain alight all the time the main burner is in operation andafter the main Aburner has been extinguished, Said plug being further rotatable into a final closed position for shutting off the gas supply to both the main and pilot burners, an actuating handle connected to one of said tapsand coupling means for coupling the gas and water taps to one an'- other so as to enable Athe gasand water taps to i comprises a` lever and the thermostat device comprises a coiled bimetallic strip having one end thereof xed and the other end extended to form an arm which engages one end of said lever, the automatic closing means having a locking element for co-operation with said lever.

7. In a water heater, the combination of a gas tap, a water tap, said taps being arranged in superposed relationship, an actuating member connected to the lower tap and having driving elements thereon, an actuating member comprising a iingerpivotally connected to the upper. tap so as to depend therefrom with its lower end in co-operative relationship with said driving elements, so as to form coupling means for coupling the gas and water taps to one another, said finger being movableout of operative relationship with one of said driving elements so as to enable the water tap to be turned independently of the gas tap in the direction for supplying water and the other driving element being arranged so as to remain in operative relationship with the finger in all positions of the latter and being so located as to establish a positive driving connection for turning the gas tap into the closed position during the closing of the water tap, with automatic closing means operatively connected to the gas tap and arranged to urge the gas tap into the closed position, a burner arranged to receive gas through the-gas tap, a thermostat device located within the heating zone of said burner and locking means under the control of said thermostat for maintaining the automatic closing means inoperative.

8. In a water heater, the combination as set forth in claim 7, with means for securing the gas and water taps to one another comprising a boss on the water tap and an arm on the gastap with a screw connection for fixing said arm to said boss.

9. In a water heater, the combination as set forth in claim 7, with means for securing the gas and water taps to one another comprising a boss on the water tap and an arm on the gas tap, said boss and arm having steps for locating them in register with the gas and water taps in alinement, and screw connecting means for fixing said arm to said boss.

l0. In a Water heater, the combination ofl a water tap, a gas tap, actuatingv means for said water tap, actuating means for the gas tap, and coupling means for coupling the gas and water taps to one another, Ysaid coupling means permitting motion of the water tap alone into the open position but having driving elements for effecting a positive driving connection for turning the gas tap into the closed position during the closing of the water tap, wi-th automatic igniting means operatively connected tothe actuating member of the gas tap so as to operat when the gas is turned on.

11. In a water heater, the combination of a water tap, a gas tap, an actuating member for the water tap, an actuating member for the gas tap, and coupling means for coupling the gas and water taps to one another, said coupling means permitting motion of the water tap alone into the open position but having driving elements for effecting a positive driving connection for turning the gas tap into 'the' closed position during the closing of the gas tap. and securing means for connecting the water tap to its actuating member, said securing means comprising an adjustable driving connection for enabling the angular position of the water tap to "ad-- justed with` respect to its actuating member so as to enable the gas tap to open at any desired open position of the Water tap.

12. In a Water heater, the combination of a water tap, a. gas tap, an actuating member for the water tap, an actuating member for the gas tap, and coupling means for coupling the gas and Water taps to one another, said coupling means permitting motion of the Water tap alone into the open position but having driving elements for effecting a positive driving connection for turning the gas tap into the closed position during the closing of the gas tap, the Water tap and its actuating member having co-operating axial grooves and projections, respectively, for connecting the Water tap and its actuating member to one another in diierent angular positions with respect to one another, so as to enable the gas tap to open at any desired open position of the Water tap.

13. In a Water heater, the combination of a gas tap, a Water tap, said taps being arranged inr superposed relationship, an actuating handle connected to one of said taps and having driving elements thereon, an actuating member connected to the other tapv and having a nger piv-V admitting Water but remaining in permanent engagement with the other driving element so as to prevent independent operation of the gas .tap in the direction for admitting gas.

MECHEL RABINOWICZ. 

